Daisy

Please..... can we play? Daisy will go home today. We had a great time together !

My Happiness

I hope my swing will last through the summer. It's fading fast and the cushions are almost flat. It has been a great source of happiness for me over the past three seasons. I don't think I could have gotten through this chaotic world without it! This tiny part of my world has kept me in a positive mood!

I remember the tire swing that my Grandfather hung from a mulberry tree near the house where I was born. Then later, I remember the swings at grammar school, where I could swing so high I almost touched the clouds. I felt as though I was flying--jumping off the swing at the highest point--I did fly! Funny, I never had a swing during my summer and fall years, when it was needed the most!

Lull'd in the countless chambers of the brain,
our thoughts are link'd by many a hidden chain;
Awake but one, and lo, what myriads rise!
Each stamps its image as the other flies.

Turtle Time

Turr Tull met Shell Boy today. I think I will bring Shell Boy into my bedroom--he matches my new decor. Turr Tull didn't seem to like him anyway.

Things I made today

I bought the picture at a local discount store for $8.00 I glued on a lot of shells and marbles to cover up the scratched frame.

My husband made this chest 20 years ago. I painted it white, took off the old brass hardware and glued on the shells. I stapled and glued on the foam and fabric, then covered a pillow that I had on my bed, leaving the tassels showing.

I glued shells and marbles on the lamp shade to match.

I redecorated my bedroom for the 19th time! My newly remodled bathroom inspired me to change the bedroom to match. I have a lot of shells from Mexico and Hawaii, collected over the years, and today, they were put to good use! Finished everything in three hours!!!

Still had time to stay outside most of the day.

First wild Flower

Desert Blue Bells have bloomed! The other wildflowers should start to bloom soon--can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Daisy ~ The Perfect Dog

I am dog-sitting Daisy this week. She is a five-year-old pug that has been professionally trained. She doesn't bark at the neighbors walking around the lake, or the numerous coots that have invaded the grassy areas aound the lake. I told her all about the rules of not touching my flowers and she has stayed clear of them. She hasn't had any accidents and doesn't get on the furniture. She doesn't beg for food, and she stays by my side. She is the perfect dog, and cute to boot!

Daisy was sniffing around Turr Tull's house and woke him up. He came out for about an hour--still wouldn't eat or drink. Daisy followed him to the yard and didn't leave his side until he went home to his hole.

I'm very weather reactive, and these perfect spring days are filling my life with happiness! This much pleasure should take ten years off my life! My days are filled with grateful graces!

Determined Tomato

I've had this tomato plant for six months now. The tomatoes just started ripening this week. I've forgotten what variety this is, but the tomatoes are small. Perhaps it's some variety of cherry tomato. I'm now glad I didn't pull it up in January when it started to look droopy and the leaves looked crispy! I didn't plant it in a good location--I don't have a lot of room from which to choose. Next time I will try to find a better spot.

I fill every nook and cranny of my garden with flowers, so I never have room to try any other vegetables. I have tried a few herbs, mixed in with my flowers, but they didn't last very long. Some day I might get out of my comfort zone and try something different. Right now, I think I will just swing and enjoy this warm and sunny early spring day!

DEVIL'S CLAW

One of my favorite plants of the desert is Devil's Claw, or Proboscidea parviflora. The prongs on end of the seed pod hook onto animals, which then disperse the seeds as they move along. Although I still look for them while in the desert, I haven't found any in many years.

As children we would search the desert floor, gathering as many as we could find. The curved prongs have hooks on the end that are similar to a fish hook. They would hook our shoes, clothes and fingers. We always came home with many bloody puncture wounds. We would paint some of them, form some into balls and see who could make the longest chains. The seed pod contains about 50 seeds. By the time we found them they had already split open and the seeds were scattered. There are two tails, and the tiny hooked head is formed as you break it from the plant.

I've tried making a pinwheel like the one in the photo, but after 2 hours of getting poked, I gave up and just purchased the one shown at a nature store in Yarnell, Arizona.

I have used Devil's Claw as embellishments on my crafted gourds. They have a southwestern look, and I usually favor that style in my gourd crafting.

Cactus and Succulents

My small patio is filled with cactus and succulents. I don't even try to remember all the species. I am drawn to the unusual shapes and the potential flowers. Best of all, they thrive with far less care than most plants. Of course, that is on my list of retirement requirements--Do As Little As Possible! My latest purchases are Lithops, known as living stones. There are over 40 species and more than 90 varieties of Lithops. The pebble-like succulents will have white or yellow flowers in the fall. I hope mine will live that long. They aren't the easiest to grow. I have them in my kitchen window, getting strong light for about 8 hours per day.

Although I surround myself with green grass and plenty of flowers--I secretly I like my cactus the best. They are a symbolic recreation of me--tough skin, slow growing, minimal care, and likes plenty of sunlight. This is in stark contrast of what others' perception of me may be!

Gourd Art Phase

I spent one year of my life crafting gourds. I went to several classes that I thought would be fun. My least favorite gourd technique was the teneriffe design shown in the first photo. I took two classes, and never could remember how to do the stitching. Anyway, it took over three hours to make, and then I remembered my "Make nothing that takes over three hours" rule! I like the wood burning technique and pine needle weaving technique. One of my favorite rim trims is made with date trash (stems) shown in the second photo.

I recently cleared out my doll room to make room for a hobby room. I had over 100 collectable dolls in there but then lost interest in that collection. So far, I haven't been inspired to take advantage of my new hobby room. I haven't crafted anything!

Happy Valentine's Day

This frame popped up on my new camera .Took the one photo and it disappeared. Still can't find it. Another strange day?????

Strange Skies

Woke up this morning with burning eyes, headache and tingling lips. Wonder if there is any connections with the curious skies? I could not get the whole effect in the photo because of the angle of the sun-to the south it looked even more pronounced with the same trails.

Another Perfect Day

I spent the day outside soaking up the sun! What a gorgeous day!

"In those vernal seasons of the year,

when the air is calm and pleasant,

It were an injury...against Nature

not to go out and see her riches,

And partake in her rejoicing with heaven and earth."

- John Milton

Turtle Surprise

Turr Tull came out of his hideaway house to enjoy the sunshine with me! This was a surprise visit-startling in fact- he has never moseyed out untill late April or early May. I picked a few nasturtium leaves, topped them with his tortoise pellets, but he just wasn't hungry. He wasn't interested in the water I put in front of him either. After about 45 minutes, he went home. I stayed on my swing and enjoyed the rest of the beautiful day.

Busy, Buzzing, Bees

I guess the bee colony collapse disorder is over. My small flower garden is alive with busy bees, buzzing around finding all the sweet-smelling flowers. Some even came after me! This is the most that I have seen in two years! The bees are having a strong come back, sorta like McCain!

Nothing Lost- Something Gained

This was the only thing gained from my recent try on the Atkins diet. The sweet potato started to sprout after I started the diet--I stuck toothpicks around the potato and placed it in a glass. After a time the roots started to turn yucky and I remembered from childhood that the roots needed to be in the dark. I wrapped aluminum foil around the glass and it perked right up!

SO Close

Well, the Atkins diet didn't work! Went thru the holidays without cheating, did everything right, and not one pound lost! So what if my Synthroid prescription had to be adjusted twice, you would think maybe a pound! I picked up the Perfect Weight book by Jordan Rubin, and did just like the book said, " Change your diet." I knew then it was time to change.

Because I already follow the Biblical food laws, eat almost all organic, take tons of supplements, know all about the bad fats etc. I felt I could just skim throught the book. Well, when he mentioned that dates were good for the body and they were on the diet list, I jumped into my car and headed to Sprouts! I picked up 1-1/4 pounds of Majoole dates. I ate one--then two, and before I made it to the half- way point home I finished the whole package! You know the routine- already cheated so might as well eat everything in sight, right? Well I did and now I'm on a full blown binge! Hope to pull out of it soon-that pot of gold above and the perfect diet was soooo close!